Archive for September, 2007

Q: What are the must haves in clothing for Fall that one can buy on a budget?A: You’re in luck–the top trends each season are readily available at all price points. You don’t have to go designer to find great trendy pieces. Our favorite cheap chic stores are H&M, Forever 21, and Target.

The "must haves" for Fall are the clothes that are not only on-trend but also figure flattering. Here’s our Top 5 Most Flattering Trends for Fall:

Sleeved DressesStyle Tip: These dresses, which are great for covering heavy arms, work best in solid colors or small prints.High Waisted TrousersStyle Tip: Balance your slouchy high-waisted trousers with a fitted top for a small-over-big silhouette.

Geometric PrintsStyle Tip: Wear a single geometric print at a time–and spice up the outfit with something brightly colored that picks up on one of the colors in the print. Note that you don’t have to go designer to find great looking geometric prints. We love H&M for designer-inspired prints at cheap chic prices.MetallicsStyle Tip: We love metallic shoes, which are versatile enough to pair with this season’s brightly colored dresses. Which metal to choose? Try pairing warm colors, such as reds, oranges, and yellows, with gold. Pair cool colors, such as greens, blues, and purples, with silver.Oversized CollarsStyle Tip: To focus attention on your face, make this dramatic detail the focal point of your outfit—and keep the rest of your look simple.

Have a great tip about where to find must have clothing for Fall? Share it with us in the comments!Pictured: Velvet Torch ‘Menswear’ Shift Dress | $52 at Nordstrom.

Q: I bought a pair of wonderful brown leather lace up Frye boots that hit 3-4 inches above the ankle. What skirt length should I wear?By Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant

A: Frye boots have an earthy, tough look to them, so you’re going to need a skirt with a similarly tough feel. We like the look of corduroy with tough-looking boots, since the heaviness of the corduroy balances the visual weight of the boots.

Citizens of Humanity has a corduroy pencil skirt that hits an inch above the knee that would work well with your lace-up boots. The corduroy skirt and Frye boots complement each other–very casually sexy.

To complete the look and to create more visual interest, I would add a pair of textured tights. By keeping the color palette of the skirt and tights neutral, the textures would serve as the focal point of your look. Enjoy your boots!

Have a great tip about what to wear with Frye boots? Share it with us in the comments!Pictured: Citizens of Humanity ‘Novak’ Corduroy Pencil Skirt | $52 at Nordstrom.

Q: What style would be best for a holiday in Lisbon? What about a holiday in Berlin?A: Fashion is global nowadays, and while each country has its own culture (and weather patterns), fashion across countries is more similar than it is different. In both Lisbon and Berlin, people are wearing bright colors, 80s inspired clothing, and a mix of structured and unstructured pieces. People in Lisbon and Berlin are wearing the same overarching trends you’re seeing in the US–but they’re adapting it for each city.

Lisbon is a coastal town that oscillates between old and new, formal and informal, work and play. Fashion is guided by the climate, which is hot and humid during the summer and remains relatively temperate even during the fall and winter. Think creative layering, unstructured dresses, chunky jewelry, and bright colors.

Berlin is a cosmopolitan, distinctly multicultural city whose style reflects its unique demographic mix. Berlin style is more experimental and has a somewhat "underground" feel. You’re going to see more one-of-a-kind pieces, dark colors, and severe silhouettes. Short shorts, tulip skirts, drapey silhouttes, and dramatically oversized shirts are all fair game.

Have a great tip about what to wear in Lisbon or Berlin? Share it with us in the comments!Pictured: Clu Ruched V Neck Dress | $173 at Shopbop.

Q: I recently purchased a black very deep scoopneck sweater dress. What can I wear underneath it for class and for parties?

By Colleen Geary, fashion stylist and image consultant

A: During the day, you can wear a black and white striped tank under your black dress to make it school appropriate. Bonus points for wearing thin stripes. To accessorize, add textured black tights and booties for shoes–perhaps in an eggplant color. To make the look even cuter, add a brightly colored bag, such as this bright blue bag from Lulu. Flashes of color with the shoes and bag will make your black dress fun and playful.

For evening, pair the black scoopneck sweater dress with a deep red camisole, black hose and a sexy stiletto or boot. To add texture and shine, finish off the look with a black snakeskin clutch.

The black sweaterdress, like its cousin the Little Black Dress, has so much versatility–so be sure to have fun with it!

You said:In! A whopping 79% of you voted Yes for Eco-Friendly Fashion.

Omiru’s take:It should go without saying that we’re glad to see that the fashion community is pro-environment. But environmentally friendly fashion as a trend–that can be good or bad. One of our readers, Kamo, said: "I think it’s a problem when [eco-friendly fashion] is reduced to a trend…it should be a way of life, like eating well, volunteering, recycling, etc. I would hope that eco-friendly isn’t “in,” because that would mean (as trendy cycles go) that it will soon be “out”!" Dawn took the opposite view: "Be grateful for the trend while it lasts, and capitalize on it. If you capitalize on it while it’s hot, you can start up programs like recycling (from the 70’s) and saving whales and food gleaning ( from the 80’s), and make them everyday mainstream institutions." Both excellent points–and we hope that this renewed interest in sustainable style does make a lasting impact on the industry.

Style tip? You don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. Environmentally friendly fashion is just as chic as it’s less earth-friendly counterparts. If you’re not convinced, check out Clothes-Pin for introductions to the most promising up-and-coming eco-friendly fashion and jewelry designers. Or take a spin over at Beklina, an online boutique dedicated to surfacing the best in sustainable style.

Next question: Having just gotten back from New York Fashion Week, runway trends are still on our minds. One of the big detailing trends we noticed was, interestingly enough, Sequins. Could be good…or could be bad. So, we ask you, what do you
think about Sequins? Tell us, are Sequins In,
or are they Out? Cast your
vote on the sidebar!